Qualcomm Technologies has inked an agreement to acquire IoT developer Edge Impulse which has built a no-code platform to enable developers to create machine learning applications for IoT devices. The acquisition is expected to support Qualcomm’s recently debuted Dragonwing line of AI-powered IoT and networking solutions. The terms of the deal are unannounced.
“We are thrilled about the opportunity to significantly enhance our IoT offerings with Edge Impulse’s advanced AI-powered end-to-end platform that will complement our strategic approach to IoT transformation,” said Nakul Duggal, group general manager, Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT, and Cloud Computing, Qualcomm Technologies.
Founded in 2019, Edge Impulse bills itself as “the leading edge AI platform.” Based in San Jose, California, the company has raised $54 million in funding, and in 2023 reported $14.7 million in revenue and 107 staffers. The company launched with the goal of democratizing machine learning on edge devices. Deploying ML/AI at the edge is a daunting task because IoT sensors have limited on-board compute power, so compute-intensive ML/AI applications must be designed with maximum efficiency to operate in this low-power environment.
To address this challenge, Edge Impulse built a platform that allows developers to create on-board IoT AI models using an intuitive user interface that requires minimal to no coding.
Edge Impulse’s no code platform has attracted a community of 170,000 developers who use the platform to create and train ML models for IoT applications across a wide range of hardware and applications for several edge computing sectors. Edge Impulse provides an extensive menu of tools for model training, data collection and deployment and monitoring. The platform helps developers create apps with advanced AI capabilities ranging from natural language processing (NLP) to computer vision, which can be built into IoT apps that perform tasks ranging from anomaly detection to predictive maintenance. The platform offers one-click deployment to a large array of hardware, including microcontollers, CPUs, GPUs and NPUs.
Edge Impulse co-founder Zach Shelby penned a blog post about the Qualcomm deal in which he touted his firm’s ability to “streamline the AI workflow.” He said Edge Impulse supports clients from “Fortune 100 companies launching AI-empowered devices globally to cutting-edge startups aiming to solve the planet’s biggest problems with novel high-tech solutions.” The company supports Dragonwing’s QCS5430 and QCS4690 chips, and is set to include additional Dragonwing processors for IoT applications.
For Qualcomm, the Edge Impulse acquisition enhances its profile in the rapidly growing IoT sector, which is forecast to grow at a robust 18.8% CAGR between now and 2029. Building AI into edge sensors is the forefront of the IoT market segment.
Most significant, the acquisition boosts Qualcomm’s new Dragonwing suite of solutions, which were unveiled in late February. The company’s strategy is to differentiate its Snapdragon portfolio as a consumer offering of chipsets and related technologies, which are embedded in wearables, gaming hardware and handsets. Dragonwing, in contrast, is geared for enterprise use cases.
In a blog post, Qualcomm CMO Don McGuire explained that the Dragonwing brand is comprised of “industrial and embedded IoT, networking and cellular infrastructure solutions. Leading edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing and unrivaled connectivity are built into custom hardware, software and service offerings designed for speed, scalability and reliability. With Dragonwing products, companies can unlock smarter decision-making, increased operational efficiency and faster time-to-market.”
As Qualcomm builds on its legacy reputation as a leading provider of connectivity solutions, this clarified two-level IoT product positioning could help it build market share in the edge sector. Qualcomm said the Edge Impulse purchase will bolster its “IoT transformation” strategy, which includes an array of developer resources, unified software architecture, an ecosystem of partners and a roadmap for silicon development.
